Banjo



(No Model.)

S. H. MASON.

BANJO.

No. 536,218. Patented Mar. 26, 1895.

Eng-.LL-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SUMNER H. MASON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,218, dated March 26, 1895.

Application filed December 3, 1894- Serial No. 5301 (NO model-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SUMNER H. MASON, of the city and county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view of so much of abanjo as is necessary to illustrate my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents, upon an enlarged scale, a side view of part of said banjo to more clearly illustrate my said improvements. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one side of the banjo, upon the same enlarged scale as Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan of part of the banjo with the straininghooks left off to more fully illustrate the construction of the straining-hoop, which will be hereinafter described. Figs. 5 and dare edge and side views respectively of two modifications in the construction of said straininghooks, which will also be hereinafter de scribed.

My invention consists of certain improvements in the main hoop, straining-hoop and straining-hooks of abanjo, in connection with the other parts of said banjo, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to which said invention appertains to better understand the nature and purpose thereof, I will now proceed to describe it more in detail.

In the drawings-A represents the main hoop; B, the straining-hoop; O, the strainingwire; D, the head; E, the straining-hooks, and F the straining-hook brackets of the banjo.

The main hoop A is in practice preferably made of aluminum in the form of a flat band with rounded edges in cross-section, as is shown in Fig. 30f the drawings. To thelower edge of said band or hoop are fastened the straining-hook brackets F, by means of screws F, said brackets being of ordinary construction. The straining-hooksE are also similar to others now in use, and their upper ends are bifurcated, or provided with two hooks adapted to engage with the straining-hoop B. Said upper bifurcated ends may each be made in the form of a separate loop E, and the lower part E attached thereto by an eye E on said lower part, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or by a hook E as shown in Fig. 5; or, the upper, bifurcated end and lower part may be made in one integral piece, as is shown in Fig. 6, without departing from the principle of my invention. The lower ends of the bottom parts E are threaded, passed through vertical openings in brackets l and provided with thumb-nuts G under said brackets, for drawing down the hooks and tightening the head D, as usual.

Instead of forming an annular groove in the upper edge of the straining-hoop B, to re ceive the ends of the straining-hooks, as is now customary, 1 preferably form a separate notch or recess 13' for each separate hook end of the aforesaid bifurcated straining-hooks E, the purpose thereof being to prevent said hook ends of the bifurcated ends of said hooks from drawing together when the strain is applied in tightening the head D.

The straining-wire O is disposed in a recess made by forming an annular groove B in the rear bottom edge of the straining-hoop B, (see Fig. 3) and is thus hidden from view from the front side. This feature, however, I do not claim as new in my instrument, it having, to my knowledge, been employed on other banjos.

The head D is fastened by passing its edge down around the straining-wire O, and up back of the straining-hoop B, in front of said wire, and said head drawn taut by drawing down the straining-hooks, as usual.

The main hoop A when made of aluminum, as previously stated, it is obvious, is of light weight, and also strong, durable and presents a neat appearance, and by making the straining-hooks E with double or bifurcated hooked ends, as previously described, one-half of the usual brackets F, may be dispensed with. Therefore, equally as good results may be obtained by my improved construction as by the old form of straining-hooks, at a large saving in cost of manufacture, while at the same time producing a banjo of neat and tasty appearance.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a banjo, the main hoop A, the brackets F, secured thereto, the head D, and straining- Wire C, in combination with the straininghoop B, having separate notches 0r recesses 13'' in its upper edge to receive the ends of the straining-hooks E, and also recessed at the back of its lower edge to receive the straining- 

